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Removing painted numbers over gel coat

3K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  christian.hess 
#1 ·
I have some faded registration numbers painted on my boat and want to remove them. It is a fiberglass boat with a gelcoat finish. What can I use to safely remove the numbers without harming the gelcoat? I do not know what type of paint it is but it appears to have been on there for a couple decades.
 
#3 ·
Every professional boat name painter I've ever met uses Easy Off to remove painted on names from gelcoat. I've used it a few times and it does a great job. Spray, give it a few seconds to a couple of minutes, then wipe off paint, rinse thoroughly, rinse again. Do not let it get on other painted surfaces or varnish.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I've always used acetone.

No matter what you use, if the numbers have been there for years as you say, you will see residuals. Best described as almost an etching from the UV that exposed the gelcoat where the painted numbers weren't. Sanding will be the only thing to really get all of it out. Start with something like 400 and work up to 1000 or so, wet sanding.
 
#6 ·
I wet sanded....but I like the easy off idea

man so many uses for stuff...I used easy off to clean cyclinder heads and the like on my motorcycle

jajaa now someting else
 
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